"They didn't brin' it to the shop, then, Miss Gheena, an they up an' toult me they could not have it until to-morrow."
Gheena nodded carelessly.
In a flutter of dark draperies Mrs. De Burgho Keane moved to her motor-car, a luxurious Limousine.
"And you must be particular with Naylour, Matilda dear," she said. "I noticed that to-day, after years of impressing Madam upon him he had fallen back upon Ma'am. You will find him a difficult old creature," she added acidly, for just then she recalled the paucity of Naylour's wages and his great use in the house.
A malignant eye peering from behind the kitchen door revealed that old Naylour was listening.
The big car lolloped off heavily, and the butler advanced into the yard; Mrs. Freyne had gone in.
"I wondther who'll juggle the decanthers of port-wine now for her," he said bitterly. "Fine red sthuff from Macdinough's for the ladies an' the clergy, and the cellar wine for themselves an' th' experts. An' champagne the same way, with me heart broke in me, huntin' Jamesey for fear he'd make a mistake. An' in she'd wheel directly the dinner was over an' the gentlemin cleared out, makin measure in her heart's eye on the decanthers befour she'd lock them up. The gentleman had no maneness in him, poor gentleman, but herself. God save us!"
"I don't know why she ever comes here," said Gheena pettishly. "Isn't she horrid, Mr. Keefe?"
"She has the face of a fat rat on her," said Keefe briefly.
CHAPTER V